Buffett helps local boat builders in oil spill effort

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. - At Dragonfly Boatworks north of Vero Beach, every watercraft is built by hand.  They make custom kayaks and canoes and craft four or five fishing skiffs each month.  After first learning of the oil spill, Mark Castlow wanted to do something to help.

"It irritated us to no end that we saw our fishery being nailed," said Castlow.

His idea was to use their expertise to come up with a vessel that would aid in the cleanup.  Their skiffs can navigate in water just six to nine inches deep.  A sketch was developed for a 16-foot work boat  that's now almost complete.  It's called the S.W.A.T or "Shallow Water Attention Terminal."

"Now the battle has moved inland and it's moved into estuary areas so our product is designed to go in there," said Castlow.

This boat will go to the Gulf Coast Research Lab in Ocean Springs, Mississippi next week and serve as a first place of refuge for oil-stained wildlife.

"We have a canopy that will encase the boat and it will have misting system in and solar fans," added Castlow.

The folks at Dragonfly have a pretty good connection to help get this project off the ground and literally into the water. One of the most well-known individuals in all of South Florida is a big contributor.

Musician, and part-time Palm Beacher Jimmy Buffett, is providing the funding for this first work boat, and up to four others that Dragonfly will build.  Jimbo Meador is a fishing buddy of Buffett's.

 "He was excited about it because his life revolves around the water," said Meador.

So these men with saltwater in their veins aren't pointing fingers, just trying to point the cleanup effort in a better direction.